Ibinabo Fiberesima – I am not a murderer, as the past tackles her on political aspiration

Just
as the beauty queen and film-maker, Ibinabo Fiberesima, has announced
her intention to contest in the local government election in Rivers State, some Nigerians have begun to challenge and question her.

It
is safe to say that the shadows of the past have come calling for Ms.
Ibinabo, as they are particularly questioning her role in a 2006 road crash in which a medical doctor, Suraj Giwa, was killed.
Journalist and critic, Azuka Jebose, brought history back to life in a Facebook
post in which he noted that it was immoral for Ms. Ibinabo Fiberesima
to kick off a political career while she was yet to wash her hands clean
of crime. Jebose told her that she owed Nigerians an apology.

He
recalled how the accident occurred when the physician, alongside a
brother of his (doctor), was going to visit a family member. Ibinabo
Fiberesima, who was alleged to have been drunk, had lost control of her
SUV, forcefully flipped; crashed across the median of the road, to face
south.

“The impact of her speed went through the slab
that divided the road. She collided with Dr. Giwa who was travelling
south. The impact of the collision instantly killed him and seriously
injured his younger brother. The impact attracted passers-by and
residents who quickly gathered to offer rescue.
The vehicles began
to steam smoke as Ms. Ibinabo slowly crawled out from the mangled
driver side of her vehicle, then staggered to the passenger side, opened
her glove compartment and removed her vehicle registration before she
fled the scene.”

Despite the fact that a lot of water
has passed under the bridge since then, with Fiberesima having been
found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to five years imprisonment,
which she appealed now to the level of the Supreme Court, Jebose
insisted that the actress’s aspiration was questionable.

He
noted in particular that she had allegedly turned down the demand for
an apology by the family of the deceased. He further stated,

“If
we allow Ms. Fiberesima to run and win, we have endorsed her way to
national political prominence. What would we tell the children of Dr.
Giwa? That it’s acceptable for their father to die in a horrible way
and the killer become a celebrated politician?
The High Court
found her guilty and sentenced her to five years jail in 2016. An appeal
to the Supreme Court does not justify her freedom. She should be in
jail while awaiting the Supreme Courts decision, not printing political
posters to announce her candidacy, mocking us that she stands for
justice, equity and service.”

While some commentators
still continued to join Jebose to battle the former beauty queen, the
story gained a twist when he announced on the same platform that the
woman had stated her own side of the case, passionately pleading that
she was not guilty. He said,

“Ibinabo Fiberesima, in a
tear- jerking explosive one-on-one this morning, tells all about the
fatal accident, drunk driving and finding peace.

She
was quoted as saying, “Azuka, I am very sorry Dr Suraj Giwa died in
that accident. Please, Nigeria, forgive me. I am suffering. I have
contemplated suicide several times. Azuka, I am not a killer. The
accident was not intentional. I have gone into deep depression and
didn’t care about living since it happened. I am not a murderer. And I
was not drunk when the unfortunate accident happened…”

Ibinabo Fiberesima – I am not a murderer, as the past tackles her on political aspiration
Reviewed by kea adams
on
19:03
Rating: 5